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Mass a time of silence, prayer, not idle ‘chitchat,’ pope says

This article appeared in the Nov. 25 issue of Arkansas Catholic. You can subscribe to the print or digital edition by calling (501) 664-0125 or emailing rharrigan@dolr.org.

Mass a time of silence, prayer, not idle ‘chitchat,’ pope says

By Junno Arocho EstevesCatholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — Mass is the highest form of prayer and not an appropriate moment for small talk, Pope Francis said. At church, Catholics should spend their time in silence before Mass, preparing “to meet with Jesus” instead of engaging in “chitchat,” the pope said Nov. 15 during his weekly general audience. “Silence is so important,” he said. “Remember what I told you last time: we are not going to a show. Silence prepares us and accompanies us.” The pope continued his new series of audience talks on the Mass, reflecting on the Eucharist as a form of prayer that is “the highest, the most sublime and, at the same time, the most concrete” way of encountering God’s love. “This is the greatest grace: to experience that the Eucharist is the privileged moment to be with Jesus and, through him, with God and with our brothers and sisters,” the pope said. In the Gospels, he continued, Jesus teaches his disciples that the first thing needed to pray “is to know how to say ‘father’” and to trust in God with the humility of a child. Christians also must allow themselves to be “surprised by the living encounter with the Lord,” he said, and not simply “talk to God like a parrot,” repeating the words of prayers without thinking. “The encounter with God is a living encounter,” the pope said departing from his prepared remarks. “It is not an encounter of a museum, it is a living encounter. And we go to Mass, not a museum! We go to a living encounter with the Lord.” Pope Francis said the Mass is also a gift and a consolation where Christians discover that God’s greatest surprise is that he “loves us even in our weakness.” “The Lord encounters our frailty,” the pope said. “This is the environment of the Eucharist. This is prayer.”

Installation Mass

It is my privilege to write to you today to announce and to invite you to the upcoming Installation to Lector, Acolyte & Candidacy at the Cathedral of St. Andrew at 10:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, December 17, 2017 for the following seminarians:

Candidacy:Jon Miskin

Acolyte: Daniel Velasco Joseph Friend

Lector: Emmanuel Torres Ben Riley Alex Smith Omar Galván Brian Cundal

I want to thank you on behalf of our seminarians for your generous support and prayers. I am very proud of our seminarians who are men of prayer and who work and study diligently so that they can be good and holy priests for you in the years to come. Please be assured that you are included in their daily prayers as well as in my own. Thank you and may God bless you.

Sincerely in Christ,

Msgr. Scott Friend, Vicar General Diocesan Director of Vocations

MALI HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT

updated 10/10/2017(click on picture to learn more)

Greetings to All,
Eight young ladies in Mali are excited to start a new school year thanks to your generous support and faithfulness. Each year I can see they appreciate the great gift of education you provide. Pray they will all have great academic performances and stay healthy. The follow message is from Adama Konate, our Mali Scholarship Project Director. Yes, that’s Mariam’s father on the right. He looks quite nice in a dress, don’t you think?
Larry Boyd Nutt

Hello Larry and All Friends of Legend Treks,
We’ve started a new school year 2017/ 2018 and everything went off well. Now, all has been fixed with the school. The children got their uniforms, school things. They got their school fees paid. Everybody was full with joy and grateful. In short we thank you one more time, parents, children, the school staff and me for your kind heart, for your tremendous supports and also for your trust in these children. May God bless you all!
You will see enclosed a class picture of the event. Mariam Ballo was absent that day. She was a bit sick. But her father represented her very well.
Best regards!
Adama

Snowbound, ill, or homebound?

If you ever have to miss Mass because of the weather or illness, here are some tips to keep your Sabbath holy.

Fr. Andy and most other pastors advise that a priority for your safety and the safety of people on whom you might cough, excuses missing Sunday Mass for serious illness such as a chronic cough. Please if you have a chronic cough stay home and take care of yourself. And above all PLEASE avoid drinking from the cup until your cough or condition is gone.

Today's Readings

Interested in becoming Catholic?

Summer is well upon us and the new school season will begin before we know it. Along with these dog days of summer comes the time to start thinking about the upcoming RCIA year! Who needs to consider the RCIA program?

Anyone who is not baptized or from another denomination.

Any Catholic person who is missing any of their sacraments.

Anyone, Catholic or otherwise who wants to learn more about our faith.

Any Catholic who is in proper standing within the church who would like to be a sponsor for our inquirers.

We will meet on Wednesday evenings in the church hall. Mass begins at 6:30 and class starts at 7:00. All participants will be provided with everything they need to be in the program. My team and I will provide a full meal for all attendees. Babysitting is available for anyone who needs this service and all materials are provided for you to deepen your understanding of all the lessons we will present. This program aims to educate all seekers about the truths and doctrines of the Catholic Church. We look forward to accompanying you on your journey of faith and want to share in your experience in this journey. Our first class will be held on August 30 at 7:00pm in the church hall, we look forward to meeting all who are interested in this course. RCIA Team, Ann Gallegos RCIA Director